Clean Tech Policy Update -- June 7

News Summary

Top Stories

• Reid Calls For Sweeping Federal Energy Bill, Politico
• Obama Says He’ll Push for Clean Energy Bill, NY Times
• Venture, Clean-Tech Sectors Brace for $50 Million Attack in California, NY Times

Government & Politics

• Gulf Spill Should Propel Passage of “Long-Term Energy Strategy,” NY Times
• Anxiety Builds Among Utilities Over the Communications Part of 'Smart' Grid, NY Times
• The Energy Bill’s Moment of Opportunity, Newsweek
• Obama Announces New Clean Car and Truck Fuel Economy Standards, Switchboard Blog
• California's Early Clean Energy Benefits Under Kerry-Lieberman Bill, Scientific American
• Josh Becker: Tech Players Enter Political Fray in Silicon Valley, Wall Street Journal,
• GOP, Silicon Valley 'Disconnect' Over Green, San Francisco Chronicle
• Calif. US Senate: Fiorina vs. Boxer on Climate Change, San Jose Mercury News

Science, Jobs, & Investment

• A Solar Boom: Who Owns It? NY Times
• E.P.A Tightens Sulfur Dioxide Limits / NY Times
• Smart-Grid Companies Feel Growing Pains, CNET
• Our Epic Foolishness, NY Times
• Keeping California’s Clean Tech Advantage, GreenTech Media
• Where's the Beef In Clean Tech? Look Around, Fox & Hounds Daily

UPDATE ON CALIFORNIA’S BALLOT PROPOSITION TO KILL AB32

While Gulf Oil Spill Worsens, Texas Oil Companies Dump More Money Into November 2010 Campaign to Kill California's Clean Energy & Clean Air Standards

Total money to date:  $2,781,101

Oil money total:  $2,090,000 (75%)*        Out of state:  $2,018,000 (73%) 
Tesoro Oil Co.:    $525,000 (19%)           Valero Oil Co.:  $750,000 (27%)

Source: Californians for Clean Energy and Jobs (www.stopdirtyenergyprop.com)

http://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/Campaign/Committees/Detail.aspx?id=1323890&view=late1

Articles

Top Stories

Reid Calls For Sweeping Energy Bill / Politico, June 3

"Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is calling on the Senate's key committee leaders to come up with a comprehensive energy strategy by July 4, accelerating the push for legislation in wake of the worst oil spill in American history. Reid demanded 'swift' action from Democrats 'to address both the existing situation and to reduce the risks of such a catastrophe happening again,'" Politico reports. "It is extremely important that you each examine what could be included in a comprehensive energy bill that would address the unfolding disaster in the Gulf of Mexico," Reid wrote to chairmen who oversee the nation's energy policies."

Obama Says He’ll Push for Clean Energy Bill / NY Times, June 2

President Obama said June 2 that it was time for the United States “to aggressively accelerate” its transition from oil to alternative sources of energy and vowed to push for quick action on climate change legislation despite almost unanimous opposition from Republicans and continued skepticism from some Democrats.

Venture, Clean-Tech Sectors Brace for $50 Million Attack in California / NY Times, May 13

Venture capital interests and political operatives gearing up for a fight this fall over California's climate change law are pressing donors to counter what they fear will be a campaign war chest in excess of $50 million from those looking to delay the measure.

Government & Politics

Gulf Spill Should Propel Passage of “Long-Term Energy Strategy” / NY Times, May 26

“President Obama is pressing the Senate to pivot off the Gulf of Mexico oil spill to pass a "long-term energy strategy" modeled after legislation written by Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.), Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.),” reports Darren Samuelsohn. “"The fact of the matter is, is that not only do we have to revisit how these oil companies are operating ... but we've also still got this overarching issue," Obama said at a San Francisco fundraiser yesterday for Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.”’

Anxiety Builds Among Utilities Over Communications Part of 'Smart' Grid / NY Times, May 25

The Obama administration has made national smart grid expansion a top technology and economic priority and is asking how state and federal laws and regulations must change to make it happen. The approach has support from many of the top telecom, appliance and information technology companies, but they don't always agree with electric utilities. "You have two very different worlds," Dan Richer of Google has offered. One is the open Internet, with broad federal oversight; the other, the electric utility industry, where state regulation has historically led. "Those two worlds have to be reconciled. How they work with each other is vital to the ultimate success of the smart grid," he said.

The Energy Bill’s Moment of Opportunity / Newsweek, June 3

If photos of dead birds and soiled beaches don’t make you long for a horizon covered in wind turbines and solar panels, odds are nothing will. That’s the reasoning President Obama is hoping will add a needed nudge to the climate and energy bill currently stalled in the Senate. Sens. Kerry and Lieberman—with the White House’s nod—introduced their energy bill two weeks after the incident in the gulf.

White House Announces New Clean Car and Truck Peace Treaty / Switchboard Blog, May 21

“Almost exactly a year after the historic clean car peace treaty of last May, President Obama today announced two major new steps to reduce America’s carbon pollution and oil dependence,” blogs David Doniger.  “The president instructed the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, working closely with California and other stakeholders, to issue a second round of greenhouse gas and fuel economy standards covering cars and light trucks for model years 2017-2025.  These will build on the clean car standards for the 2012-2016 model years announced last May and officially published this April.”

California's Early Actors on Clean Energy to Benefit Under Fed Climate Bill / Scientific American, May 12

Aside from the direct damage the oil companies are attempting to do to California’s economy (and global climate catastrophe) with their multimillion-dollar attempted repeal of AB32, it turns out that it would also hit many of California’s clean energy pioneers in the pocketbook. That’s because, if their measure passes when it comes before California voters this November, it will also mean taking away economic rewards that California businesses would have been be eligible to receive through the new federal climate policy that Senators Kerry and Lieberman unveiled today.

Tech Players Enter Political Fray in Silicon Valley / Wall Street Journal, June 3

“Silicon Valley's digerati don't typically throw their weight into local elections. Yet many have recently mobilized around the campaign of Josh Becker,” reports Pui-Wing Tam.  “Mr. Becker is running in the June 8 Democratic primary for State Assembly to represent the 21st District, which covers Foster City down to Los Gatos. His campaign has attracted the support of a Who's Who of technology executives and venture capitalists, from Zynga Game Network Inc. Chief Executive Mark Pincus to LinkedIn Corp. founder and venture capitalist Reid Hoffman.”

GOP, Silicon Valley 'Disconnect' Over Green / San Francisco Chronicle, May 25

Four of the five Republicans seeking statewide office boast about their Silicon Valley roots, but all oppose the state's groundbreaking climate change law, known as AB32, that was championed by the region's tech leaders.

Internal Affairs: Fiorina Risks Political Backlash With Global Warming Cracks /

San Jose Mercury News, June 6

Looking to sew up the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate, former HP CEO Carly Fiorina over the past few weeks has positioned herself as a staunch conservative, playing up endorsements from Sarah Palin, anti-abortion-rights groups and the National Rifle Association. Then came her ad last week attacking incumbent Barbara Boxer, in which she likened the Democratic senator's concerns over global warming to fretting about "the weather."

Business, Science, & Investment

A Solar Boom: Who Owns It? / New York Times, June 4

“Who has power in the high, sunny expanse of southern Colorado’s rural San Luis Valley?” questions Kirk Johnson.  “It’s something of a trick question, complicated by the many shades of meaning that the word “power” conveys – from electrical to political to financial. And the story of the valley and its wrestling match/debate over a big power line project encompasses them all.”

E.P.A Tightens Sulfur Dioxide Limits / New York Times, June 3

The Environmental Protection Agency issued a new health standard on Thursday for sulfur dioxide emissions, the first such revision in nearly 40 years.

Smart-Grid Companies Feel Growing Pains / CNET, June 2

Despite being only seven years old, the high-profile energy start-up has adjusted its strategy a few times and made a string of acquisitions. At first, it planned on selling home energy management systems and batteries to consumers, then shifted its focus to selling smart-grid equipment to utilities, such as software to manage home energy or charge electric cars.

Our Epic Foolishness / New York Times, May 31

When are we going to stop behaving so stupidly? We nearly wrecked the economy and we’re all but buried in debt. But we can’t break up the biggest banks, and we can’t raise taxes. Now we’re fouling the magnificent Gulf of Mexico and ruining entire communities along the southern Louisiana Coast.

Keeping California’s Clean Tech Advantage / GreenTech Media, May 26

But California's clean tech advantage is being put at risk. Texas oil companies are bankrolling a measure for the November ballot that would essentially kill AB 32, our state's roadmap to a clean energy future.  It's clear why Texas oil companies would oppose our state's effort to wean itself from dirty fossil fuels: it will hurt their bottom line. But Californians shouldn't fall for deception behind this proposition. Instead, they should look at the positive job-creation benefits of our state's transition to a clean energy economy.

Where's the Beef In Clean Tech? Look Around / Fox & Hounds Daily, May 26

Last week's announcement that automaker Tesla Motors plans to put more than 1,000 California workers back on the assembly lines at the NUMMI plant is yet another indicator that the clean tech industry will be a driving force in California's economic recovery.

CONGRESSIONAL CLIMATE & ENERGY LEGISLATION

The American Power Act (The Kerry-Lieberman Climate Bill)

The legislation aims to cut emissions of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping greenhouse gases by 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020 and more than 80 percent by 2050. For the first time it would set a price on carbon emissions for large polluters such as coal-fired power plants. Rates initially would range from $12 per ton of carbon emissions to $25 per ton, depending on market prices. Restrictions would not take effect until 2013 for power plants and transportation fuels, and 2016 for manufacturers. Allowances would be granted to local electricity companies, which would be required to use them to help ratepayers. In addition, a separate consumer relief provision would provide rebates to eligible families. Kerry and Lieberman said the bill would exempt farms and most small and medium-sized businesses, concentrating efforts on the largest polluters. – Associated Press, May 12